The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has recommended the creation of a special African parliamentary forum. The goal, he said, is to promote responsible resource governance and ensure natural resources are harnessed to serve and empower the African people.
Tajudeen made the call while delivering his remarks on Wednesday at the opening of the 8th Conference of the Network of African Parliamentarians for Defence and Security Committees (REPAM-CDS) in Abuja.
The conference is titled “Security Governance of Natural Resources in Africa: Parliamentarians Confronted with New International Security Dynamics.”
Reinforcing the call for collective action,
Tajudeen said the proposed parliamentary forum will monitor regions experiencing resource conflicts. It will collaborate with regional legislative bodies to collect data, recommend safeguards, and support community-led development initiatives.
He added that the struggle for peace is also a struggle for responsible stewardship of Africa’s natural endowments.
According to him, illicit mining, opaque oil contracts, and unregulated timber corridors generate dangerous revenue streams. These streams arm insurgents, corrupt institutions, and deprive communities of the dividends of growth.
“Where resource governance is weak, violence takes root; where it is transparent and accountable, prosperity and stability follow. Nigeria’s recent reforms illustrate the point.
“I recommend that our parliaments form a special forum to monitor regions with resource conflicts.
“Let us unite with unwavering resolve to strengthen our committees and harness our natural resources responsibly, ensuring they serve and empower our people,” he said.
African Parliamentarians Call for Joint Action on Digital Protection, Security Threats, and Resource Mismanagement
Beyond natural resources governance, Tajudeen called for a continent-wide agreement on digital sovereignty to help countries protect their cyberspace and financial systems without infringing on civil rights.
More importantly, he said Africans are watching their parliamentarians closely. Specifically, they want them to turn debates into real action, match words with results, and protect democracy, dignity, and our shared heritage.
To that end, the speaker said the National Assembly is ready to help. It will do so by sharing expertise, creating centres for legislative drafting, strengthening intelligence cooperation, and supporting a free press that promotes accountability.
In a related remark, the Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Rep. Ahmed Satomi (APC-Borno) said that parliamentarians play crucial roles in ensuring effective oversight, transparency, and accountability in the management of natural resources and security forces.
Satomi said lawmakers should ensure responsible resource governance and, as such, use legislative instruments to achieve sustainable and credible management of natural resources. These efforts must reflect specific local circumstances and align with the global governance agenda.
“We must work together to develop durable and people-centred security solutions, aligning constitutional provisions with evolving threats and realities on the ground.
“I am delighted that the fundamental objectives of our Network have strongly and strategically positioned us to undertake these responsibilities.
“Let us therefore work together to address these pressing security challenges and ensure that our natural resources contribute to the prosperity and stability of our great continent,” he said.
Responsible Resource Governance: Gambian Deputy Speaker Urges Continental Unity to Defend Africa’s Sovereignty and Ensure Peace
Reinforcing the call for collective action, the Deputy Speaker of The Gambian Parliament, Mr. Seedy Njie, said that security matters concern every stakeholder, saying members of parliament want the citizens of Africa to live in peace and harmony.
He tasked security chiefs across the continent with protecting Africa’s territorial integrity. He also emphasized the importance of defending the sovereignty of each nation.
“I urged all service chiefs in Nigeria and beyond to work tirelessly to ensure that our people live in peace and harmony.
“The issue of fear, terrorism, bandits, and armed robbery is becoming common in the sub-Saharan Africa, and we need to do whatever it takes us to take our responsibility seriously and defend our territorial integrity and sovereignty of our nations,” he said.
He assured the parliamentarians were willing to work with the Federal Government in the advancement of the social-economic well-being of Africa.
NSA Calls for Continental Collaboration to Curb Terrorism and Instability Linked to Natural Resource Conflicts
Also speaking, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, said that the competition for resources had led to conflicts between communities, herders, and farmers, exacerbating existing tensions in several countries.
Ribadu, represented by the Director of Defence Affairs, Maj.-Gen. Peter Malla (rtd) said the mismanagement of natural resources had serious consequences. It has led to economic instability, corruption, and widespread poverty.
Additionally, the NSA said the extraction of natural resources has also posed security threats, including terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping.
Moreover, in response to these challenges, Ribadu emphasized the need for a united front to tackle the growing threats linked to natural resource extraction. Accordingly, he said, addressing the challenges requires a broad and coordinated response.
“We must come together to address the challenges we face; we need a comprehensive approach.”
Meanwhile, as part of the approach, he highlighted the importance of intelligence coordination and border security.
“We need to share intelligence and coordinate efforts to prevent and counter security threats related to natural resources extraction.
Furthermore, he highlighted the role of technology and community engagement in preventing insecurity and radicalisation.
“We need to leverage technology to detect and neutralize threats before they materialise and engage with local communities to raise awareness and prevent radicalization that fuels terrorism,” he said.
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